Catananche caerulea

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blue-flowered Cupid's dart

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Other common names

blue cupidone, blue succory, compulsion-of-love, cornflower, flower of love, Greek love plant, blue daisy

Synonyms

Catananche caerulea 'Cupid's Dart'
Catananche bicolor hort.

Herbaceous Perennial
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A short-lived herbaceous perennial to 50-90cm in height, with erect, grassy leaves and branched sprays of dark-centred, violet-blue daisy-like flowers 3-5cm in width from mid-summer to autumn; seedheads are papery and attractive

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Catananche may be annuals or short-lived perennials with narrow leaves and solitary flowers heads with silvery bracts and strap-shaped florets; can be dried
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
C Europe to W Mediterranean

How to Grow

Cultivation

Suited to any well-drained soil in full sun; good drought resistance. Often short-lived especially if grown on heavy soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed. Propagate by division in spring or by root cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews